More than beating the Minnesota Timberwolves, Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies proved in Game 5 that they are as clutch and resilient as they come.
Morant and the Grizzlies actually made multiple records in the contest. For one, the superstar guard has now scored the most points in a fourth quarter of a playoff game after his 18-point explosion, surpassing Zach Randolph's 17 points in 2011.
It is also worth noting that Morant scored the final 13 points for the Grizzlies, including the game-winning lay-up, after scoring just 12 through three quarters, per ESPN Stats & Info.
Ja Morant scored 18 points in the 4th quarter, the most by any Grizzlies player in the 4th quarter of a playoff game.
Morant scored Memphis' final 13 points, including the game winner with 1 second remaining. pic.twitter.com/fcONJ5lcOK
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 27, 2022
Even more incredible, the Grizzlies are now the first team in NBA history to actually record multiple wins in a single playoff series after falling to double-digit leads entering the fourth quarter. During Tuesday's contest, they were trailing the Timberwolves by 11 points after the third quarter. Prior to that, they were down 16 in Game 3 in the final 12 minutes of play before staging a strong comeback and recording a 105-94 victory.
The Grizzles are the first team in NBA history to have multiple wins in a single playoff series in which they trailed by double-digits entering the 4th quarter.
The 2020 Heat are the only other team to even accomplish that twice in a single postseason. pic.twitter.com/0bga8wjYKd
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) April 27, 2022
Ja Morant and the Grizzlies will certainly need that mental toughness and ability to perform in high-pressure situations if they want to go deep in the playoffs. It is just the first round and things have already been really competitive.
Should they be able to move on to the second round and beyond, things will only get tougher for them. Fortunately, Memphis continues to prove that they are a hungry and motivated team willing to do anything and go all-out in order to win.
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